It is announced that the thieves took advantage of the fact that a large traditional Žolinė procession was taking place in the city, attracting about 100,000 people, so all law enforcement forces were concentrated on maintaining order in the streets.
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Having broken into the museum, the criminals took down from the wall and carried away three wooden parts of the five surviving panels of the famous 1473 altarpiece (Polittico di San Gregorio). The stolen central piece with the seated Madonna and two upper panels depicting the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel.
After breaking the display case, the criminals also stole a small double-sided painting: on one side it depicts the Virgin Mary with the baby and a Franciscan monk, on the other – the image of Christ.
The total value of the four stolen paintings on the art market reaches up to 80 million euros. These works are unique because they were the only surviving works by Antonello da Messina that had never left his hometown.
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It is announced that the thieves initially tried to take all five parts of the polyptych, but in their haste left two parts depicting St. Benedict and St. Gregory leaning against the wall near the museum’s outer fence. Passersby who noticed suspicious individuals called the police.
Surveillance cameras recorded the crime, so investigators are currently reviewing the footage to identify the persons involved in the theft.
It is believed that the theft may have been premeditated and carried out on the order of collectors.
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